Contestants in this year’s Green Park Triathlon are being put through their paces by trainer and event organiser Dom Dos Remedios.

All entrants are being offered practice sessions with the official British Triathlon Federation coach and free use of the Nuffield Health Gym. But anyone who has not already signed up will have to be quick as three quarters of the places are already taken for this year’s event in aid of Sport Relief.

Mr Remedios said: “We’ve got about 300 entrants and we have room for 400 so we’re on course for that.

“We had 350 last year so it’s proving to be at least as popular as last year.”

The trainer has been visiting companies around town encouraging work colleagues to compete in the event on Wednesday, March 19.

Businesses taking part so far include Foster Wheeler of Shinfield, town centre solicitors Field Seymour Parkes, Thames Water of Vastern Road and Oracle corporation and Microsoft in Thames Valley Park in East Reading. Green Park-based firms including Cisco and Quintiles will also have a big presence.

There will also be a battle of the fitness trainers when staff at the Nuffield gym at Green Park go head to head with David Lloyd gym instructors in Thames Valley Park.

All contestants stand a chance of winning prizes, with a bottle of Champagne going to the fastest competitor and two iPads going to the top two fundraisers while another two iPads will be donated to a raffle open to all competitors who have raised £100.

Contestants can take part in the Sprint Triathlon, which consists of a 400m swim, 17km cycle ride and 6km run, or the Funathon Triathlon where the distances are a 200m swim, 9km cycle and 3.5km run.

Mr Remedios is also keen to hear from anyone willing to offer some help.

He said: “If there is anyone out there interested in helping to marshall, we are looking for people to make sure people stay on course.”